Child Advocacy

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers are needed to represent the best interested of children before the juvenile court in abuse and neglect cases. The work involves background investigation, report writing, monitoring court orders, and child advocacy, as well as recommendations to the court concerning permanent placement of the child. An initial training class of 30 hours is provided, and periodic in-service training is required. All volunteers are supervised by the program director and the volunteer coordinator.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Applications are now being accepted for the Newport News Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, CASA. Volunteers represent the best interests of children before the juvenile court in abuse and neglect cases. The work involves background investigation, report writing, monitoring court orders, and child advocacy, as well as recommendations to the court concerning permanent placement of the child. An initial training class of 30 hours is provided, and periodic in-service training is required.

John Williams knows computers. He's run a popular restaurant. But ask anyone at the local courthouse, and they'll tell you that what makes him special is his knack for helping children through hard times. Williams, an attorney, serves as a guardian ad litem for children in local courts, kids who are in trouble, kids who have been abused, kids who need an adult to look out for them and make sure their legal rights are taken care of. It's a tough job. And Williams is the best.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and during April, child advocacy organizations promote and wear blue ribbons to symbolize the need for continued awareness of the ongoing rise in child abuse. Child advocacy organizations such as CASA, otherwise known as Court Appointed Special Advocate, work with abused and neglected children in Hampton Roads. CASA is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that advocates for what is in the best interest of the child before the Juvenile Court judge.

FACES The North Phoebus Townhouses, Lincoln Park and Pine Chapel resident councils presented T. Melvin Butler, chairman of the board of commissioners of the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority, with a plaque to thank him for his determination and commitment to serve the citizens of Hampton and the support he provides to resident councils. The resident councils also submitted Butler's name as a nominee for the Individual Recognition Award to be considered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and presented at the 1991 National Performance Awards Ceremony later this year.

Lauri Hogge used to handle child abuse and neglect cases as a prosecutor for Hampton. She was often frustrated at how many times children had to relive abuse by telling, then retelling their stories. Hogge said she wished there was a better way to protect the children and still prosecute the adults involved. Since late 1998 the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk has tried to provide a way to do that with its Child Abuse Program. For the past three years, Hogge has been the director of the program with a goal of providing a "one-stop" place for children to tell their stories.

Mayra Creed knows that a rough start in life doesn't mean it can't get better. It might be parental abuse, drug addiction or neglect that causes a child to be taken from his or her home. Creed's job is to provide children with an independent and objective voice while their lives are being patched back together. Creed is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. For nearly a decade, Creed has worked in conjunction with the Newport News juvenile courts, social services and other agencies to help those children achieve a safe and permanent home.

A volunteer program that provides advocates for children in court hearings of drug abuse or neglect cases has won this year's Cruikshank Award of the United Way of Greater Williamsburg. The award was presented Thursday at the United Way agency's annual meeting. Named after Pete Cruikshank, its first recipient in 1993, the award recognizes an individual or community volunteer group that "has demonstrated initiative, creativity and determination in the development of programs that enhance the quality of life."

Lauri Hogge used to handle child abuse and neglect cases as a prosecutor for Hampton. She was often frustrated at how many times children had to relive abuse by telling, then retelling their stories. Hogge said she wished there was a better way to protect the children and still prosecute the adults involved. Since late 1998 the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk has tried to provide a way to do that with its Child Abuse Program. For the past three years, Hogge has been the director of the program with a goal of providing a "one-stop" place for children to tell their stories.

A wall in the Winchester Medical Center's forensic nurse office is papered in business cards -- for attorneys, police officers, social workers. Every time a nurse examines a child for abuse, sexual or physical, all those people have to be called. And the child must repeat the story of abuse to each of them in turn. A new organization, the Frederick County-Winchester Child Advocacy Center, plans to eliminate the need for those cards and make things a little easier for victimized children.

Mayra Creed knows that a rough start in life doesn't mean it can't get better. It might be parental abuse, drug addiction or neglect that causes a child to be taken from his or her home. Creed's job is to provide children with an independent and objective voice while their lives are being patched back together. Creed is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. For nearly a decade, Creed has worked in conjunction with the Newport News juvenile courts, social services and other agencies to help those children achieve a safe and permanent home.

A volunteer program that provides advocates for children in court hearings of drug abuse or neglect cases has won this year's Cruikshank Award of the United Way of Greater Williamsburg. The award was presented Thursday at the United Way agency's annual meeting. Named after Pete Cruikshank, its first recipient in 1993, the award recognizes an individual or community volunteer group that "has demonstrated initiative, creativity and determination in the development of programs that enhance the quality of life."

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and during April, child advocacy organizations promote and wear blue ribbons to symbolize the need for continued awareness of the ongoing rise in child abuse. Child advocacy organizations such as CASA, otherwise known as Court Appointed Special Advocate, work with abused and neglected children in Hampton Roads. CASA is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that advocates for what is in the best interest of the child before the Juvenile Court judge.

Parents who are complacent when PTAs raise money for school supplies and activities are expecting too little from the 96-year-old organization. Parent Teacher's Association, the largest child advocacy organization in the world, is more powerful than most parents realize, says David Goodrich, president of the Virginia Congress of PTAs. "PTAs are very powerful," Goodrich says. "If parents only realized how powerful they are. Historically, PTAs have baked cookies to raise money to buy stage curtains.

A wall in the Winchester Medical Center's forensic nurse office is papered in business cards -- for attorneys, police officers, social workers. Every time a nurse examines a child for abuse, sexual or physical, all those people have to be called. And the child must repeat the story of abuse to each of them in turn. A new organization, the Frederick County-Winchester Child Advocacy Center, plans to eliminate the need for those cards and make things a little easier for victimized children.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Applications are now being accepted for the Newport News Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, CASA. Volunteers represent the best interests of children before the juvenile court in abuse and neglect cases. The work involves background investigation, report writing, monitoring court orders, and child advocacy, as well as recommendations to the court concerning permanent placement of the child. An initial training class of 30 hours is provided, and periodic in-service training is required.